Chapter 50: Entering High Society (3) |
***
The light of the Crystal Orb faded, and the study fell silent once more.
I closed my notebook and set down my pen.
A single phrase from my Teacher kept echoing in my mind.
— ‘A 4th Rank Escort Knight, or enough capital that even a Ducal Family can't ignore.’
As soon as I heard those words, I knew what my problem was.
'I've only made life-saving medicines.'
Until now, I had always prioritized fame when creating medicine.
Since I had become the protagonist, I wanted to be remembered as the greatest doctor in history, so I had focused on making medicines that people urgently needed.
As part of that effort, I sell Quinine to soldiers at half price, and our company covers the cost of Insulin for pediatric patients with congenital diabetes.
Thanks to these deeds, Director Schun was able to avoid the image of a nouveau riche.
But as those deeds piled up, my fortune failed to keep up with my fame.
'I focused too much on fame farming.'
I just thought it would be enough to get famous for the right reasons.
I never dreamed a side effect like this would occur.
'This misunderstanding genre, I swear.'
The Misunderstanding Genre is great because it makes life easy, but this is its downside.
Things don't always go my way.
'I need capital. Capital that matches my reputation.'
A 4th Rank Escort Knight doesn't just fall from the sky.
It's more realistic to earn the money myself than to wait until I can make someone like that my own.
In the first place, you need money to hire a 4th Rank knight, so in the end, every problem came down to money.
'Has the time finally come to make this?'
I opened the deluxe hardcover Research Notebook that sat in a corner of my study.
It was what I called the Possessor's Notebook.
The common, must-have essential item for any possessor, where they record important memories right after possession.
When I opened the notebook, I saw my childhood handwriting from before it had been refined.
[UK-92480]
One of the three drugs I wrote down first, even before I made Quinine.
One of the Three Divine Instruments that I could realistically create.
Also known as Sildenafil.
A drug famous to the public as Viagra.
However, this drug had a minor problem.
'It has almost no life-saving effects; it's purely a drug that makes good money.'
No, to be precise, it does save something.
It's just that it saves a man's pride, not his life.
There's no problem with the drug itself.
The only problem is that selling it could slightly tarnish my image.
'It just doesn't fit Director Schun's image.'
Think about it.
There's a scientist who spreads philanthropy by creating things like Insulin, Quinine, and Heparin.
But then that scientist, out of nowhere, starts researching a drug to enhance male function and begins to produce and sell it.
It's just so out of character.
Moreover, this world setting is a misunderstanding genre.
Depending on the circumstances, people might misunderstand and think Director Schun researched the drug because he was worried about his own function.
'Yeah, a story where I intended to make it from the start seems a bit much.'
There's only one way to solve this problem.
I have to make it seem like this drug was created unintentionally.
Fortunately, it wasn't a difficult task if I referred to the real history of how Viagra was made.
Viagra was originally developed as a heart medicine.
But during clinical trials, it was found to have no effect on heart disease, but it did have the effect of reviving an entirely different area.
And so, Viagra established itself as the undisputed king of erectile dysfunction treatments.
The circumstances of Director Schun creating this Viagra needed to be designed in the same way.
However, in this case, Guild Master Gustav's role is more important than mine.
I must appear to have only intended to make a heart medicine, while the Guild Master must be the one to notice its side effect.
In other words, I can't let it seem like I intended this all along.
'Well, the Guild Master should be able to handle it.'
It's easy to be mistaken because of his nouveau riche image, but the Guild Master is a pretty sharp fellow.
He's also diligent enough to study the principles of the medicines his guild sells and their uses.
A man like that would be able to figure out how Viagra could be utilized.
In the first place, you can't run a merchant guild of this size if you're an idiot.
There's a reason I entrusted him with full authority even after I became a co-representative.
'I should contact the Guild Master.'
Don't they say to strike while the iron is hot?
I immediately reached for the Crystal Orb.
***
[—and for that reason, we must conduct a clinical trial, Guild Master. Since it's a heart medicine, there must be no side effects.]
“I will keep that in mind, Young Master.”
[I'll leave persuading the other directors to you.]
“Haha. Just leave it to me.”
The next day.
After hearing about the heart medicine from Yulian, Gustav immediately began to draw up a development plan for the drug.
'The Young Master guaranteed this drug would become an even bigger bestseller product than Insulin.'
After hearing the explanation, Gustav had no choice but to agree.
Medicines that need to be taken consistently contribute more to sales than those for temporary treatment.
A prime example is how Insulin, used only by patients with wasting disease, generates more sales than Quinine, which is used by almost everyone in the Southern Region.
Quinine is taken only when one is sick, but Insulin must be administered every single day.
Therefore, despite having a smaller patient base, its consistent use contributed more to sales.
'The heart medicine will be a drug like that, too.'
Like Insulin, the heart medicine must be taken every day.
Furthermore, heart medicine is also a blue ocean with no competing drugs.
Of course, a heart medicine called Digitalis exists, but its side effects are so severe that it's embarrassing to even call it competition.
Thus, it was highly likely that this new heart medicine would also become a flagship product for the company, on par with Insulin.
'I must ensure there are no mistakes.'
Just as Insulin had led the company to its golden age, there could be no mistakes with this new heart medicine either.
Therefore, the day after receiving the call, Gustav convened a board meeting.
— [What? You want me to come when it's snowing this hard?]
— [What could possibly be so important to discuss?]
— [Understood. I'll be there right away.]
And so, the next morning.
Merkur Major Trading Company Headquarters, 3rd floor, meeting room.
The board of directors, who had braved the heavy snow, took their seats on both sides of a long table.
One of the directors, a doctor, was too busy with patients and rarely attended board meetings, so he was absent today as well.
With seven of the eight directors present, the early morning temporary board meeting began.
“My apologies for calling you all in this weather.”
Gustav, who was the last to enter the meeting room, waddled toward the seat of honor.
Before Gustav could even sit down, Director Knopf, who had received the agenda in advance, spoke up.
“Guild Master. I have reviewed all the documents regarding the heart medicine. Indeed, it has more than enough potential to become a long-cherished project for our guild, on par with Insulin. If it's to launch this drug as soon as possible, I would have called a meeting in this weather too.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“However, I have one question.”
Knopf said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Another clinical trial?”
His voice didn't carry any particular hostility or annoyance.
Only a deep sense of fatigue.
Gustav spoke chidingly to Director Knopf.
“It's not 'another one,' it's something we must naturally do, Director Knopf.”
“I understand your point, Guild Master. But I'm questioning if we really have to do it.”
Knopf took off his eyeglasses to clean them and continued.
“Other merchant guilds don't do things like clinical trials, do they? Not just the pharmaceutical guilds, but all the others as well.”
“We've done well so far, so why are you asking?”
“As you know, Guild Master, the cost of clinical trials is no small matter. The development cost is almost nothing since Director Schun covers it all himself, but the clinical trials alone account for 70 percent of the original cost. Aren't you curious what the sales would look like if we cut that?”
“...”
Gustav's resolve seemed to waver, if only a little, at Knopf's words.
Merchant guilds of this era often operated the way Knopf described.
That was much cleaner and more cost-effective.
Gustav knew this fact very well.
That was why, if he were the Guild Master from a few years ago, he might have agreed with Knopf.
He would have forged the clinical trial results behind Director Schun's back and released the drug just like that.
But the Gustav of today could not do such a thing.
“I understand what you're trying to say, Director Knopf.”
“Then...”
“But there is one thing we need to address. What is the reason this guild maintains its monopolistic status in the vaccine business?”
“Isn't it because Director Schun made it?”
“No. Consumers are not that simple. The market always prioritizes price.”
Gustav tapped the table once.
“The vaccine patent has already expired, other guilds are analyzing the components to create similar drugs, and their prices are lower than ours. And yet, consumers only seek our product. Do you know why?”
This time, Director Knopf shook his head.
To this, Gustav replied.
“It's because of these clinical trials. We have never once been careless with a clinical trial. The consumers remember that, which is why they only look for our vaccines. They think other guilds' vaccines are dangerous, and indeed, side effects do occur frequently.”
The meeting room fell silent.
“We even use it for our marketing. What is our guild's slogan right now?”
“... A future you can trust.”
“Correct.”
Gustav nodded his head.
“But as you know, Director Knopf, trust is like a sandcastle. It collapses in an instant with a single mistake.”
“... I was too short-sighted.”
Knopf put his eyeglasses back on and bowed his head.
Gustav waved his hand.
“It's alright. I was once like that myself. Just don't do it again. However, there is one thing I must address.”
“...?”
“Just now, regarding your attempt to deceive Director Schun, I think we need to make things very clear.”
Gustav placed both hands on the table.
The laughter that always seemed to linger in his half-playful eyes vanished.
Along with him, the other directors' complexions hardened as they looked at Director Knopf.
At this board meeting, Director Schun was in a class of his own, different from the other directors.
The other directors were new executives who had joined as the guild approached First-Class status.
In contrast, Director Schun had nurtured this guild from the brink of collapse to its current position.
Moreover, all of this guild's main products were born from Director Schun's hands, and that was expected to continue.
In the first place, the title of Representative Director was one that had been forced upon him because he kept refusing the title of Co-manager.
Knowing this full well, none of the directors present dared to go against Director Schun's wishes.
And yet, Director Knopf had proposed deceiving Director Schun and forging the clinical trial.
He had, for a brief moment, crossed that line.
“Director Knopf. I understand you've come from another guild and haven't fully adjusted yet. But if you work that way here, you will find it difficult to live a long life.”
At Gustav's sharp warning, Director Knopf nodded his head.
“... I will not do so again.”
“Good.”
Gustav smiled brightly.
“Then we shall make our decision. We will now hold a pros and cons vote on the budget for the heart medicine's clinical trial. Please refer to the attached documents for the budget scale, and if there are any objections, speak now.”
No one raised an objection.
The sound of pens scratching on paper filled the meeting room.
A moment later, the secretary collected the papers and tallied the votes.
“Seven in favor, none opposed. The motion is passed.”
“Good.”
Gustav rose from his seat.
“That is all for the morning meeting. After a 30-minute break, we will discuss how to prepare the distribution network for this drug.”
*
Break time.
A coffee pot and teacups were placed on a table at one side of the meeting room.
While Gustav was briefly away, three directors stood chatting with cups in hand.
“But I was wondering.”
One director began, tilting his teacup.
“What's with the sudden interest in a heart medicine? I thought Director Schun wasn't interested in that sort of thing?”
“Wasn't it because of something related to the Scholarship Foundation?”
“The Scholarship Foundation? You mean Director Schun's new hobby?”
“That's the one.”
“What does that have to do with heart medicine? Was there perhaps a scholarship student with a weak heart?”
“Not exactly. I heard that during the last mealtime with the scholarship students, he came up with something called GIK Therapy while talking with a child. A cardioprotective therapy that involves infusing a mixture of Glucose, Insulin, and Potassium."
“Ah, I read about that. Thanks to it, I expect Insulin sales to rise even more.”
“I suspect that's where it all started. While researching GIK Therapy, he must have realized there were no suitable medicines for the heart.”
“So you're saying he got the idea from a conversation with a single scholarship student and even created a new medicine?”
The director let out a sigh mixed with admiration and resignation.
“Haha. A genius truly is different in every way.”
“That's just how he is, isn't it? He's the one who thought of Insulin just by looking at a pig's pancreas.”
“True. How could ordinary people like us possibly understand such a genius?”
The directors each nodded and emptied their teacups.
*
After the board meeting ended.
Gustav Piper walked down the 3rd-floor headquarters hallway and returned to his office.
When he opened the door, his secretary had already arranged the documents on his desk.
“Guild Master. Another message came from Director Schun during the meeting. It's about the apprentice accounting personnel.”
“Ah, right.”
Gustav plopped down in his chair and touched his forehead.
“It was Miss Valeria... right?”
“Yes. She is a student scheduled to enter the Imperial Academy High School Division this year.”
“Hmm.”
Gustav skimmed the documents the secretary handed him.
Attached were her resume from the scholarship foundation, her transcript, and a letter of recommendation from Director Schun.
“If it's a request from the Director.”
Gustav said, putting down the documents.
“Tell her she'll be working here as an apprentice in accounting before she enters the High School Division.”
“Even if it is Director Schun's request, is it alright to entrust such duties to a student?”
“It's what all the other guilds do. Students in the High School Division usually build up experience by doing apprenticeships like this before they enroll.”
“She's a student, does she need experience?”
“Professors always prefer to raise students with experience as their protégés. That's just how the world works.”
“In many ways, the students have it tough.”
Gustav gave a bitter smile and looked down at the documents.
The child in the photograph was a girl with neatly tied black hair, wearing a gray shawl over her school uniform.
Her eyes looked cool for her sixteen years of age, giving the impression that she would be sharp and precise with her work.
“First, let's send her a copy of the ledger from five years ago as a task. To test her skills.”
While looking down at the girl's photo, Gustav thought.
'To think she's coming for a tour at a time like this. What a lucky scholarship student.'
